Kuḻpi Nyiinkaku (teaching cave)

Heavy rainfall impacted Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park yesterday. It resulted in water over a number of roads and a closure of the park for safety.

The park has reopened to visitors and we’re pleased to advise that the Uluṟu Ring Road and the Muṯitjulu Waterhole access road have reopened.

There is still water over the road in several locations and motorists are advised to proceed with caution. Road closures for Tjukaruru Road (Docker River Road) at the Kata-Tjuṯa Road intersection remain in place. For more information and latest advice visit Road Report NT.

All walking tracks are open however we ask visitors to exercise caution, remain on marked tracks and paths at all times and take care on potentially slippery surfaces.

We thank visitors and tourism operators for their patience, understanding and continued support during this weather event.

For many generations, this cave was used by Aṉangu Elders to teach bush boys how to travel in this Country and survive.

When the Mala ancestors arrived at Uluṟu, nyiinka (bush boys) camped here. A nyiinka is a boy at the stage of life where he is ready to become a wati (man). Nyiinka were taught by their grandfathers and separated from the rest of their family for this period. Traditionally this stage could last for several years until the boy proved his hunting skills, self-reliance and discipline.

Generations of grandfathers painted the pictures in this cave to teach nyiinka how to track and hunt kuka (food animals).

Nyiinka would then be taken into the bush to learn about Country: where the waterholes are, where to find animals and where to source materials for tools and weapons.

You can visit Kuḻpi Nyiinkaku on the Mala walk.

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